10 Best Swimmers of All Time

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Swimming comes into the spotlight every 4 years at the Olympic Games. Most sports fans and even those who stay away from sports for the most part, know the GOAT swimmer, Michael Phelps. Katinka Hosszu is also known for versatility on the women’s side, with a career that spanned multiple decades. 

Swimmers idolize the legends with their technique and work ethic, which is why the USA is in such a great spot, idolizing Phelps.

How We Chose the Best Swimmers of All Time?

We picked the best swimmers of all time depending on world records, Olympic succes, and impact on the sport. Swimming is truly a great sport due to the diversity of events. The evolution of the sport has been staggering with better athletes than ever before entering the pool.

#10 Katinka Hosszu

Katinka Hosszu is from Hungary, which produces top world-class swimmers despite having a small population. Hosszu competed collegiately at the University of Southern California. Hosszu had multiple world records in the backstroke and individual medley events. Katinka is known for swimming a multitude of events at meets and placing very high, which earned her massive amounts of money for being a swimmer on the professional circuits.

#9 Laszlo Cseh

Laszlo Cseh was a son of an Olympic swimmer, so the talent was obvious. Cseh was unfortunate enough to face Phelps and Lochte in his main events. Cseh holds a case for the best swimmer to never win an individual gold medal. Cseh is an idol of Hungarian swimmers throughout the country due to competing in 5 Olympic games.

#8 Ryan Lochte

Ryan Lochte was the definition of a “Florida Man” hailing from Daytona Beach. Lochte was a world record holder in the 200 IM and an incredible overall athlete. Lochte has 12 Olympic medals 6 of which are gold. Lochte paved the way for a number of Florida swimmers, some of whom are included on this list.

#7 Caeleb Dressel

Caeleb Dressel is the name that comes to mind when talking about sprinters in today’s swimming world. Dressel Dominated at the University of Florida, setting records in various events for the NCAA. Dressel has 7 Gold medals with 3 of which being individual in the 50, 100 freestyles and 100 meter butterfly.

#6 Aleksandr Popov

Popov is a Russian swimmer who is widely considered the best sprint freestyler in history. Popove held the records in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle events. Popov won 3 Olympic gold medals and had his records broken only recently by swimmers not utilizing full-body suits. Popov is the prototype for sprint freestyle technique, with a plethora of drills named after the superstar.

#5 Leon Marchand

Leon Marchand is a French swimmer currently attending Arizona State University. After Paris in 2024, Marchand could skyrocket up this list as he could win multiple individual events and is expected to do so. Marchand’s versatility is similar to that of Phelps, with Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman coaching this phenomenon as well. Leon holds multiple world and NCAA records currently, with his most recent being breaking Phelps’ record in the 400-meter individual medley.

#4 Ian Thorpe

Ian Thorpe has five individual gold medals and won his first world championship at just 15 years old. The Aussie has the most individual goals, although his image has been tarnished with accusations of doping. Thorpe even did what many cannot even utter when he beat Phelps in 2004 in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympics. Thorpe held the 200- and 400-meter freestyle world records for a period of time, which have since been broken.

#3 Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky took the swimming world by storm by winning the 800-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympics in London. Ledecky has held records in distance events and is the best distance swimmer of all time, regardless of gender, with 6 gold medals in events from the 200-meter to 1500-meter freestyle. Katie has pushed the envelope for American distance swimmers and will continue to do so at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

#2 Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz was the definition of success before Phelps broke his record of 7 gold medals in an Olympic competition. So many thought this record was unbreakable with Spitz winning a total of 9 gold medals. Spitz had an amazing NCAA career along with Olympic career. Mark sported the mustache and didn’t wear a cap or goggles which is a testament to how far swimming equipment has come.

#1 Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps comes from Baltimore, Maryland with both of his sisters being swimmers. He set his first world record at the age of 16 in the 200 butterfly. With 23 Olympic gold medals, Phelps has more gold medals than a significant number of countries. With a staggering 39 world records broken including relays, he is the undisputed greatest. His underwater butterfly kick had a lasting impact on swimmers and will continue to do so.

Debates and Honorable Mentions

Notable snubs are countless, as swimming has been an Olympic sport for over 100 years. Controversies are a part of Olympic sports, as some countries famously doped their athletes for national glory. Swimming is not without its challenges, as Olympic-course pools are expensive to maintain and build. Some countries have had their trials to qualify for the Olympics in hotel pools and rivers.

Best Swimmers FAQs

Who is the best swimmer of all time?

Michael Phelps is the best swimmer in history with 23 Olympic gold medals, including relays. There is no debate as Phelps broke his first world record at 16 years old. 

Who is the best swimmer after Michael Phelps?

While there is a debate, Mark Spitz earned 6 Olympic gold medals, only to be eclipsed by Michael Phelps decades later. 

Is Katie Ledecky better than Michael Phelps?

Katie Ledecky is the queen of women’s distance swimming. Michael Phelps is better, though as what many do not realize is that he could have won events in the backstroke events. Phelps won freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley events, while Ledecky is a freestyle specialist. 

Which race had the most significant impact on the sport of swimming?

Simone Manuel winning the first individual gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics had a huge impact. Manuel was the first black swimmer to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. 

Are there any recent races that could be considered among the best of all time?

The 400 individual medley in the 2008 Olympics included 3 swimmers on this list including Phelps, Lochte, and Cseh. Phelps dominated the field in a fashion that was nearly unbelievable. 

What are some of the most memorable performances in swimming history?

The 400 freestyle relay battles in 2000 and 2008 are among the most memorable. In 2000, the USA fell to Australia after making comments that they would smash the Aussies like guitars. In 2008, France had 4 of the fastest freestyliers in history only to be topped by the legendary Jason Lezak on the anchor leg. 

Which races are considered the best in different swimming events?

Michael Phelps is the best butterflier of all time. He held world records in both stroke disciplines. His 100-meter butterfly race against Milorad Cavic is considered the best butterfly race of all time.

Aaron Piersol is the best backstroke swimmer of all time, with zero losses in over a decade. His 100-meter and 200-meter world records were broken multiple times, and his backstroke records were set so many times that it was difficult to pick a specific race. 

Rebecca Soni’s 200 breaststroke in 2008 was the most dominant performance in any race in breaststroke in recent memory. 

For freestyle, the race between France and the USA in the 400-meter freestyle relay is iconic. Jason Lezak had an anchor leg for the United States that is burned on the mind of anyone who watched the race live. The split is still one of the fastest ever 16 years later. 

What was the best swimming championship race of all time?

The 400 Freestyle relay from 2008 still captivates the hearts of swim fans. The “old man” of the relay, Jason Lezak, seemingly summoned the swimming gods for a comeback, which helped Phelps secure his record 7 gold medals at that Olympic games.